No one could have predicted that Lena Lindy Rosenthal (July 1920-August 2007), a high school drop-out and child of Polish Jewish immigrants, would became a New York billionaire hotelier and Manhattan real estate mogul.
When Leona Met Harry
Leona was already a millionaire when she met Harry Helmsley, a married multimillionaire real estate investor in 1968.She was a former model, twice divorced and a succefull real estate agent in Manhattan.In 1972 they wed, and with her help the couple amassed a commercial and residential real estate empire worth billions.
At the couples zentih, Harry and Leona Helmsley owned some of New York's finest hotels and controlled the Empire state building. Such sumptuous properties included the Hotel on Madison Avenue, a block from Sain't Patrick's Cathedral, The Park Lane and The New York Helmsley, worth at least 5 billion dollars.
Leona - the ''Queen of Mean''
Soon after Leona took over the management of the Helmsley hotels became a tyranical boss, that led her to the ''Queen of mean'' nickname.The slightest mistake was usually grounds for firing or shouting insults.
When Joyce Beber(advertising agent) noticed Helmsley's ''hyper-obssesive attention to detail'' persuaded Leona to call herself ''The Queen of the Palace Hotel''.
The advertising campaign for Helmsley Palace by Joyce Beber portrayed Leona as a demanding ''queen'' who wanted nothing but the best for her guests.
''The only palace in the world where the Queen stands guard''.
The advertising campaign for Helmsley Palace was very successful and the occupancy raised from 25% to 87% at the Helmsley hotels in the next few months.
Director Tim Burton stated that Helena Bonham-Carter's performance as the Red queen in the 2010 film Alice in Wonderland, was partly based on her.
Trouble with the law
In 1989 Leona Helmsley was convicted and served 21 months in a Connecticut prison for evading federal taxes.
I said ''you must pay a lot of taxes'' .She said: ''We don't pay taxes only the little people pay taxes'' .
The case was the basis for a 1990 made-for-television movie "Leona Helmsley: The Queen of Mean."
However,trouble with the law would not end for Leona. In 2002 she was once more brought to court by former employee who alleged that he was fired solely by being homosexual.Jury found her guitly and ordered her to pay the amount of $554.000 in damages.
The queen dies Director Tim Burton stated that Helena Bonham-Carter's performance as the Red queen in the 2010 film Alice in Wonderland, was partly based on her.
Trouble with the law
In 1989 Leona Helmsley was convicted and served 21 months in a Connecticut prison for evading federal taxes.
Forty-four witnesses testified against Leona and two other employees, including contractors, hotell staff, former employees...A testimony by Elizabeth Baum a former houskeeper of Leona made a grim impression for the defendants.
I said ''you must pay a lot of taxes'' .She said: ''We don't pay taxes only the little people pay taxes'' .
The case was the basis for a 1990 made-for-television movie "Leona Helmsley: The Queen of Mean."
Apparently they did not pay taxes.They faced 188 counts of tax fraud for illegally charging more than $4 million of personal expenses to Helmsley Enterprises, and accused for consipiracy to defraud the goverment of over $1 million in personal income taxes.
A large number of journalists and photographers crouded
outside the court for months to catch a photo of the ''Queen''
entering the courthouse.
When released, Leona pulled herself together and returned in controlling the Helmsley property and taking care of her husband Harry who had an ill health.
However,trouble with the law would not end for Leona. In 2002 she was once more brought to court by former employee who alleged that he was fired solely by being homosexual.Jury found her guitly and ordered her to pay the amount of $554.000 in damages.
I' ve done nothing wrong.I'm inocent.
My only crime is that I' m Leona Helmsley'',
she told reporters at the time of her trial.
''Leona was a great woman a great businesswoman in her own right," publicist Howard Rubenstein said in a statement announcing her death in 2007."She was extremely generous as a philanthropist and she gave tens of millions of dollars to charity right up until the last months of her life. I was very proud to represent her."
The arrogant, quick-tempered greedy business woman held one more surprise to her closest relatives by leaving a $12 million trust fund to her beloved maltese dog named ''Trouble''.
Manhattan Surrogate Judge Renee Roth has reduced
the trust fund for the little dog, named "Trouble,"
from $12 million to $2 million.
from $12 million to $2 million.
Always seems to be the case with people like this, that the more the gain, the more they want.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting though, I may start calling somebody I know the Queen of Mean when they don't share their chocolate